Madras Day will be celebrated on 22nd August. Many events have been organised on this occasion. There will be events over the period of a whole week. Indeed, some organisations are arranging activities for the entire month.
KreedaGames is one such organisation. There is a Road Show whereby a colourful van is moving all over the city to arrange sessions of traditional games of Tamil Nadu. There is a heavy demand for the van from Orphanages, Old Peoples' Homes, Hospitals, etc. (The Chennai police has accorded permission for the movement of the van on condition that it will not be used for any commercial activity. Therefore games are not being sold from the van. However, they may be purchased online or can be home delivered).
PROBUS Club was able to make a reservation for a session of games to be organised during the monthly meeting in August. The session was held on Tuesday, 14th August.
A team consisting of three members - Ms Gomathi, Mr Ramraj and Mr Muruganandham - arrived in their van loaded with folding tables, display stands and more than twenty games, both indoor and outdoor. They laid out the games on the tables and set up the display very quickly and efficiently at the venue in Besant Nagar. As the members started arriving, the team enthusiastically explained the origin and traits of the various games and the rules of play. Soon the members joined in with gusto and enjoyed themselves immensely. In spite of the inclement weather, there was a good gathering and the session continued for the full two hours as scheduled.
Towards the end of the session, the head of Kreedagames, Ms Vinitha Siddhartha, arrived at the venue. She explained about the work being done by her organisation for the past many years, and the significance and history of the games. ( To learn more, please visit their website www.kreedagames.com). The games had probably been started in temples with their designs drawn on the floor of the courtyard by priests. Some of the designs can be seen in the Vadivudai Koil in Thiruvottriyur, the Marundeeswarar temple in Thiruvanmiyur, and several others. Songs were sung in accompaniment of the games. On her travels, she has come across one such design even in a temple in Syria, far away from India.
The games were a social platform for interaction between family members, friends and neighbours. She related a humorous anecdote in which a mother-in-law did not get along with her daughter-in-law, but still they would willingly join each other to play games. The games help grandparents connect with grandchildren who are born and brought up in a world vastly different from that of two generations earlier.
The games also have a spiritual significance. They are mentioned in epics like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, and also in our scriptures. The Kauravas and the Pandavas played Chaupad - with unpleasant consequences. Legend has it that when Sitaji was kidnapped and confined in the Ashok Vana in Sri Lanka, she passed the time by playing a game with tamarind seeds. The game is aptly named "Vanavaas". Shiva and Parvati are believed to play a game with DICE, during which they argue and quarrel. Shiva always lets Parvati win. Their arguments lead to differences between them, thereby producing energy - life - which emanates through the Universe. But Shiva and Shakti are inseparable and parts of a whole, which is reflected in the form of Ardhnareeswarar.
The organisers were keen to hear the views of Club members and learn about more games which are not yet included in their repertoire/collection, and to document those games about which members could enlighten them.
The session ended with a very lively interactive session during which members enquired about various aspects and relived memories of the days when the games were a very pleasant pastime in their childhood and youth.
Some Traditional Games
1. Aadu Puli Aatam
2. Solah Seedi
3. Dahdi (In A Line)
4. Ashta Chemma
5. Chatur Vimshathi Koshtaka
6. Pallanguzhi
7. Chaupad
8. Parama Pada Sopanam
9. Bambaram
10. Kattam Vilayathu - I, II, III
11. Panch Kone
12. Vanavaas
13. Search for Sita
14. The Battle Of Lanka
15. Memories of Madras
16. Golio (Marbles)
17. Gili Danda
18. Kalanay Belanay
19. Coconut Shell Walk
20. Bangles